Richard ‘Dick’ Henry Austin
Richard “Dick” Henry Austin, 85, passed away on July 08, 2021 in Londonderry, NH. He was born on December 29, 1935 in Goffstown, NH to Leo and Eva (Hamilton) Austin.
Dick grew up in Brookline, NH. He graduated from Nashua High School in 1954. After high school he worked at various jobs and learned the trade of plumbing at his last job. In 1962 he opened his business, Richard H. Austin, Plumbing and Heating which operated out of the house in Nashua and sold it to son Tim 35 years later.
Dick married Carol White on September 24, 1955 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Nashua. They were married for 65 years and raised their 4 children in Nashua before they moved permanently to “The Lake House” on Long Island in Moultonborough, NH after the kids left the nest.
Dick was a member of the church bowling league, Long Island Land Owners Assoc, Timberland Owners Association and supported NH and Game Department. He volunteered delivering Meals On Wheels for over 10 years and took his post seriously – offering good cheer along with his deliveries.
His passions were hunting and fishing, tennis, daily exercise, chopping wood and reading. He was an avid cribbage player and passed down this legacy teaching his children and grandchildren how to play. He balanced work, play and rest. He had many friends and neighbors over the years who knew him as a generous, fun and funny character. His greatest joy was his family – children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. While living on Lake Winnipesaukee, he received fairly constant requests for boat rides and water skiing. In winters, he’d break out the snowmobile and ATV with the plow to clear a spot for ice skating. He taught his sons and grandsons how to drive the boat; his daughters were lost causes and they were fine with that.
He taught his grandchildren how to fish at a young age and exposed them to “how to discourage raccoons from eating at the deer feeder” which discouraged the grandchildren as well.
Dick was generous to a fault – anyone at the door, family, friend, neighbor, was welcomed in and offered food and drink. He would happily give away his last beer which was always Budweiser; we believe he was trying to pawn off that same can for years.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Eva Austin, and sister: Dot Joki and brothers: Jim, Leo Jr. (Teeny) and John Austin.
Dick is survived by his wife, Carol of Londonderry, NH; his sons: Rick, (Linda), Austin of Rutherfordton, NC; Tim Austin of Brookline, NH; his daughters: Lisa Hanson of Kingston, NH; and Pamela, (Mike Sweeney), Austin of Londonderry, NH. His sisters: Shirley, (Zeke), Johnson, of Nashua, NH, Eileen Austin of Nashua, NH; his brother: Frank Austin of Bennington, NH; his grandchildren: Briana Aguilar-Austin, Josh, Brent and Russell Austin, Katy and Alister Hanson; Kelsey and Hannah Robillard, Sarah, Tommy and Jacqui Sweeney and Molly and Max Austin; his great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Richard and Myra Austin, and Nora and Ella Austin; and many nieces and nephews.
SERVICES: Calling hours will be held at the Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH., on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A funeral service will follow in the Chapel of the Davis Funeral Home on Thursday, July 15 at 11:00 am with a procession to Edgewood Cemetery, 107 Amherst St., Nashua, NH followed by a burial. If you are not vaccinated, we ask you to please wear a mask for the safety of others. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the NH Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program at 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301-6500, or go visit them online at wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame. An online guest-book can be found at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com. (603)883-3401 “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER.”